Kashubian Trivia in English

Arguably, one of the greatest challenges Kashubian language is faced with today is its diminishing speaker base. Different estimates provide less or more optimistic counts of the number of those who still use it (Mordawski, 2005), and undoubtedly the 2011 census will shed more light on the current state of the matter (Narodowy Spis Powszechny, 2011). However, one cannot dismiss the fact that popularity of Kashubian language is in an unremitting decline. Whereas it can be argued that the world knows examples of language revivals (i.e., Hebrew in Israel), the gloomy truth is that the vast majority of such attempts fail miserably (Mechura, 2007). Recognizing language as the most important aspect of any culture (Xiulan, 2007), the fact remains that once the Kashubs forfeit their language, there will have very little left to distinguish them from their close relatives: the Polish. Unlike the Irish, who have adapted English as the functional language of the state and still maintained their identity, the Kashubs do not have their own country, and retaining their own language is an imperative necessity, if they are to survive as the distinct group of people.

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I have started a Kashubian bibliography page in English. Although definitely incomplete, hopefully it will keep growing affording the English-speaking researchers a place where they can initiate their academic queries. Having said that, you may send me references to be added to the list, as long as they are electronically available.

• en.kaszubia.com/culture/bibliography

Yurek

To accommodate reviews of Kashubian books, I have started a new section called “Book Reviews” located in the “Culture” section of the portal.

If you would like to contribute to this section, please let me know (reviews don’t have to be written in English).

Verba Sacra - Kashubian Bible

As part of the Verba Sacra – Polish Cathedral Prayers series, on 19 January, at 5 P.M. at Wejherowo Collegiate (Fara), The Gospel  According to St. Matthew will be presented in Kashubian language.  The author of the translation (including commentary on the Book) is Fr. Adam Ryszard Sikora (OFM)also know by other Kashubian New  Testament translations. Fragments of the Gospel (in Kashubian) will be read by Danuta Stenka, with remarks by prof. Jerzy Treder and Fr. Adam Ryszard Sikora.

Verba Sacra is a project realized since 2000 and established by a film director, Przemysław Basiński.

The Verba Sacra 2009 music was composed by Tadeusz Korthals (Northstudio) and Cyprian Wieczorkowski (Lud Hauza). The variety of music to be performed during the event will be provided by a band consisting of: (more…)

A. Majkowski, Life and Adventures of Remus

The Kashubian Institute of Gdańsk has recently released English translation of “Żëcé i przigòdë Remùsa” under its English title of “Life and Adventures of Remus.” Written by Aleksander Majakowski, this novel is widely recognized as one of the pillars of Kashubian literature.

The enormous task of translation was completed by Blanche Krbechek of the Kashubian Association of North America and Kasia Gawlik-Luiken. Both ladies reside in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

This, fourth so far, translation of the Majakowski’s 1938 book was preceded by the Polish (by Lech Bądkowski, 1964), French (La vie et les aventures de Remus, 1984), and German (Das abenteuerliche leben des Remus. Ein kaschubischer Spiegel, by Ewa Brenner, 1988) translations.

Life and Adventures of Remus

transl. B. Krbechek & K. Gawlik-Luiken
Gdańsk 2008, pp. 496